Stapler for an improved flexible pusher retracting member

Abstract

A stapler of the type having a top cover member and lever member mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position disposed in closing relation with the open top of the magazine chamber of a magazine member and a staple stick loading position displaced approximately 180°, a staple stick pusher mounted slidable on a mounting rod within the magazine chamber and a flexible elongated pusher retracting member molded of plastic material having one end portion abutting the pusher apertured to receive the rod therethrough and the opposite end formed with a disk-shaped head insertable through an elongated slot in the top cover member so as to move within a space defined by the top cover member and the lever member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a staple driving device comprising a magazine structure having means defining a drive track and means defining an elongated open top chamber leading to said drive track of a size to receive and support a staple stick therein,   a staple stick pusher disposed within said chamber,   means mounting said pusher within said chamber for generally rectilinear movement toward and away from said drive track, said mounting means including an elongated rod fixedly mounted in said magazine structure, said pusher having a sliding connection with said rod,   spring means resiliently biasing said pusher in a direction toward said drive track,   a top cover member mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position disposed in closing relation with the open top of said magazine chamber and a staple stick loading position displaced from said magazine chamber an arcuate extent sufficient to expose the open top thereof for convenient loading of a staple stick therein,   a lever member having a staple driving element,   means mounting said lever member for pivotal movement through (A) staple driving cycles each of which includes (1) a drive stroke during which a staple in said drive track is driven by said staple driving element from said drive track and (2) a return stroke, and (B) staple stick loading cycles each of which includes (1) a magazine opening stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the operative position thereof to the staple stick loading position thereof and (2) a magazine closing stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the staple stick loading position thereof to the operative position thereof,   and elongated flexible pusher retracting means operatively connected with said pusher and said cover member for (A) effecting movement of said pusher in a direction away from said drive track into a stick loading position in response to the movement of said cover member with said lever member through said magazine opening stroke and (B) permitting said pusher member to be moved by the resilient bias of said spring means toward said drive track when said cover member is in said operative position,   the improvement in combination therewith which comprises said pusher retracting means having one end portion thereof abuttingly engaging said pusher and formed with an aperture through which said rod extends.   
     
     
       2. A stapler comprising a base having a staple leg clinching anvil thereon,   a magazine structure pivoted to said base having means defining a drive track movable toward and away from said anvil and means defining an elongated open top chamber leading to said drive track of a size to receive and support a staple stick therein,   a staple stick pusher disposed within said chamber,   means mounting said pusher within said chamber for generally rectilinear movement toward and away from said drive track, said mounting means including an elongated rod fixedly mounted in said magazine structure, said pusher having a sliding connection with said rod,   spring means resiliently biasing said pusher in a direction toward said drive track,   a top cover member mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position disposed in closing relation with the open top of said magazine chamber and a staple stick loading position displaced from said magazine chamber an arcuate extent sufficient to expose the open top thereof for convenient loading of a staple stick therein,   a lever member having a staple driving element,   means mounting said lever member for pivotal movement through (A) staple driving cycles each of which includes (1) a drive stroke during which (a) said magazine structure is moved with said lever member toward said base into engagement with a workpiece disposed therebetween and (b) a staple in said drive track is driven by said staple driving element from said drive track through the workpiece and into clinching relation to said anvil and (2) a return stroke, and (B) staple stick loading cycles each of which includes (1) a magazine opening stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the operative position thereof to the staple stick loading position thereof and (2) a magazine closing stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the staple stick loading position thereof to the operative position thereof,   and elongated flexible pusher retracting means operatively connected with said pusher and said cover member for (A) effecting movement of said pusher in a direction away from said drive track into a stick loading position in response to the movement of said cover member with said lever member through said magazine opening stroke and (B) permitting said pusher member to be moved by the resilient bias of said spring means toward said drive track when said cover member is in said operative position,   the improvement in combination therewith which comprises said pusher retracting means having one end portion thereof abuttingly engaging said pusher and formed with an aperture through which said rod extends.   
     
     
       3. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein said pusher retracting means comprises an elongated flexible member molded of plastic material, said one end portion formed with an aperture being molded as an integral part of said flexible member. 
     
     
       4. The improvement as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein said pusher comprises an inverted U-shaped member having a central bight portion, said bight portion having a tab struck therefrom and bent downwardly so as to form an opening therein forwardly of the bent down tab, said tab having an aperture therein through which said rod extends, the abutting engagement between said pusher and said one end portion being constituted by the engagement of the latter with the forward surface of said bent down tab. 
     
     
       5. The improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein the bight portion of said pusher member has a forward tab struck therefrom and bent upwardly and providing a manually engageable projection by which said pusher member can be manually moved. PG,28 
     
     
       6. The improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein said pusher retracting means has an opposite end thereof formed with an enlarged head, said cover member having an elongated slot extending therethrough leading to said space, said pusher retracting means extending through said slot with said enlarged head being disposed within said space, said enlarged head having exterior surface means for (1) permitting passage of said head through said slot and into said space with said head oriented in a mounting relationship with respect to said slot and (2) preventing movement of said head outwardly through said slot with said head oriented in a normal operative relationship within said space as aforesaid. 
     
     
       7. The improvement as defined in claim 6, wherein said exterior surface means is of generally disk-like configuration having a generally circular periphery. 
     
     
       8. A stapler comprising a base having a staple leg clinching anvil thereon,   a magazine structure pivoted to said base having means defining a drive track movable toward and away from said anvil and means defining an elongated open top chamber leading to said drive track of a size to receive and support a staple stick therein,   a staple stick pusher disposed within said chamber,   means mounting said pusher within said chamber for generally rectilinear movement toward and away from said drive track,   spring means resiliently biasing said pusher in a direction toward said drive track,   a top cover member mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position disposed in closing relation with the open top of said magazine chamber and a staple stick loading position displaced from said magazine chamber an arcuate extent sufficient to expose the open top thereof for convenient loading of a staple stick therein,   a lever member having a staple driving element,   means mounting said lever member for pivotal movement through (A) staple driving cycles each of which includes (1) a drive stroke during which (a) said magazine structure is moved with said lever member toward said base into engagement with a workpiece disposed therebetween and (b) a staple in said drive track is driven by said staple driving element from said drive track through the workpiece and into clinching relation to said anvil and (2) a return stroke, and (B) staple stick loading cycles each of which includes (1) a magazine opening stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the operative position thereof to the staple stick loading position thereof and (2) a magazine closing stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the staple stick loading position thereof to the operative position thereof,   said lever member and said cover member defining a space above said cover member when the latter is in said operative position,   and elongated flexible pusher retracting means operatively connected with said pusher and said cover member for (A) effecting movement of said pusher in a direction away from said drive track into a stick loading position in response to the movement of said cover member with said lever member through said magazine opening stroke and (B) permitting said pusher member to be moved by the resilient bias of said spring means toward said drive track when said cover member is in said operative position,   the improvement in combination therewith which comprises said pusher retracting means having an end thereof formed with an enlarged head, said cover member having an elongated slot extending therethrough leading to said space, said pusher retracting means extending through said slot with said enlarged head being disposed within said space, said enlarged head having exterior surface means for (1) permitting passage of said head through said slot and into said space with said head oriented in a mounting relationship with respect to said slot and (2) preventing movement of said head outwardly through said slot with said head oriented in a normal operative relation within said space as aforesaid.   
     
     
       9. In a staple driving device comprising a magazine structure having means defining a drive track and means defining an elongated open top chamber leading to said drive track of a size to receive and support a staple stick therein,   a staple stick pusher disposed within said chamber for generally rectilinear movement toward and away from said drive track,   spring means resiliently biasing said pusher in a direction toward said drive track,   a top cover member mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position disposed in closing relation with the open top of said magazine chamber and a staple stick loading position displaced from said magazine chamber an arcuate extent sufficient to expose the open top thereof for convenient loading of a staple stick therein,   a lever member having a staple driving element,   means mounting said lever member for pivotal movement through (A) staple driving cycles each of which includes (1) a drive stroke during which a staple in said drive track is driven by said staple driving element from said drive track and (2) a return stroke, and (B) staple stick loading cycles each of which includes (1) a magazine opening stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the operative position thereof to the staple stick loading position thereof and (2) a magazine closing stroke during which said cover member is moved with said lever member from the staple stick loading position thereof to the operative position thereof,   said lever member and said cover member defining a space above said cover member when the latter is in said operative position,   an elongated flexible pusher retracting means operatively connected with said pusher and said cover member for (A) effecting movement of said pusher in a direction away from said drive track into a stick loading position in response to the movement of said cover member with said lever member through said magazine opening stroke and (B) permitting said pusher member to be moved by the resilient bias of said spring means toward said drive track when said cover member is in said operative position,   the improvement in combination therewith which comprises said pusher retracting means having an end thereof formed with an enlarged head, said cover member having an elongated slot extending therethrough leading to said space through which said pusher retracting means extends, said enlarged head being disposed in said space and having length and width dimensions such as to prevent passage thereof outwardly through said slot and a thickness dimension of a size to permit said enlarged head to be inserted through said slot when said enlarged head is oriented with its thickness aligned with the width of said slot.